Equipment finance for LLPs & partnerships — eligibility explained
Summary (short answer): Yes — many LLPs and partnerships can apply for equipment finance. Eligibility depends on the lender’s criteria, your trading history, partners’ credit profiles and the asset being financed. UK Business Loans introduces LLPs and partnerships to lenders and brokers who specialise in asset and equipment finance and can arrange a free eligibility check and competitive quotes. Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check
Can LLPs and partnerships get equipment finance?
Short answer: yes. Many mainstream and specialist lenders will provide equipment finance to Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) and general partnerships. Lenders assess each application on its merits — focusing on the business’s trading performance, the partners’ credit histories, the nature and value of the asset and the proposed finance structure (lease, hire purchase, etc.).
What this means for you: LLPs and partnerships are commonly accepted customers for asset finance, but acceptance and terms vary between lenders. Some lenders treat LLPs more like limited companies; others look more at the partners personally. If you want a quick, free eligibility check and tailored lender matches, Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check.
Compliance note: UK Business Loans is an introducer — we do not lend money or provide regulated financial advice. We connect your LLP or partnership with lenders or brokers who can provide quotes and next steps.
Common lender requirements for LLPs & partnerships
Lenders differ, but typical criteria include:
Our Business Finance Matching Process
Step 1
Complete Your Details
It takes just 1 minute on average to complete your business and contact details.
Step 2
We Match Your Business
With the best business finance broker or lender most suitable for your needs.
Step 3
You Get Free Quote + Advice
You receive a free quote along with complimentary expert financial advice.
It’s fast and free to get a quote from one of the UK’s leading finance brokers / lenders who will contact you directly with your quote/s.
Complete Our 1-Minute Enquiry Form Now – Get a No-Obligation Quote
- Trading history: many lenders ask for 6–12 months trading for used/smaller assets and 12+ months for larger deals.
- Turnover thresholds: certain lenders set minimum annual turnover requirements for the business.
- Financial documentation: management accounts or statutory accounts, bank statements and supplier quotes.
- Partners’ credit profiles: partner credit scores and previous defaults influence decisions.
- Personal guarantees (PGs): commonly requested for partnerships/LLPs, particularly on new or higher-value transactions.
- Asset type & resale value: lenders prefer assets with stable residuals (commercial vehicles, plant, IT with strong secondary markets).
Quick tip: If your LLP or partnership is newly formed, specialist lenders and brokers can often source solutions if partners provide strong personal financials or contract evidence. For a tailored match, Get Quote Now.
Which types of equipment finance suit LLPs & partnerships?
LLPs and partnerships can use the full range of equipment finance products. Which one is best depends on whether you want ownership, tax treatment and cashflow impact.
Our Business Finance Matching Process
Step 1
Complete Your Details
It takes just 1 minute on average to complete your business and contact details.
Step 2
We Match Your Business
With the best business finance broker or lender most suitable for your needs.
Step 3
You Get Free Quote + Advice
You receive a free quote along with complimentary expert financial advice.
It’s fast and free to get a quote from one of the UK’s leading finance brokers / lenders who will contact you directly with your quote/s.
Operating lease / contract hire
Short-term rental-style agreement with lower upfront cost. The lender retains ownership and you pay rental charges. Suitable if you want off-balance flexibility and regular upgrades.
Finance lease
Longer-term; the lender owns the asset and you take on most of the economic risk. Often lower monthly payments than hire purchase but ownership remains with the funder.
Hire purchase (HP)
Structured as staged payments where ownership transfers after the final payment. Popular where the business wants to own the asset at term end.
Asset refinance / sale & leaseback
Sell owned equipment to a funder and lease it back to release cash. Useful for partnerships needing working capital while retaining operational use of equipment.
VAT financing & payment plans
Options exist to spread VAT on equipment or include VAT within finance plans for VAT-registered partnerships.
Complete Our 1-Minute Enquiry Form Now – Get a No-Obligation Quote
Not sure which fits your LLP or partnership? Complete our short form for a free recommendation and lender match: Free Eligibility Check.
Specialist sectors & equipment examples
Lenders and brokers often specialise by sector. Common examples where partnerships and LLPs seek equipment finance:
- Construction — excavators, dumpers, site plant
- Transport & logistics — HGVs, vans, fleet finance
- Manufacturing — CNC machines, production lines
- Hospitality — commercial kitchens, refrigeration
- Healthcare — diagnostic & dental equipment
- IT & telecoms — servers, hardware and communications gear
Different lenders understand resale values and sector risk profiles — we match you to the specialists who lend to your industry.
Eligibility checklist — documents & information lenders typically require
Gathering the right paperwork speeds approvals. Typical items lenders ask for:
Business details
- Partnership/LLP registration details (company number where applicable)
- Partnership agreement or details of partners
- UTR and VAT registration (if applicable)
Financials
- Last 1–3 years’ accounts or management accounts
- Recent business bank statements (usually 3–6 months)
- Projected cashflow for new purchases or large deals
Identity & credit
- Partner ID (passport/driving licence) and proof of address
- Personal financial information where partners support the application
Equipment & supplier information
- Supplier quote(s), asset specification and expected useful life
- Details of any existing finance on the asset (for refinance)
If your partnership has limited trading history, provide partner personal accounts, a robust business plan and supplier quotes — brokers can often find lenders who accept these cases. Ready to upload details? Start your enquiry.
How lenders treat LLPs & partnerships (risk, guarantees and pricing)
Lenders assess risk using a combination of business and partner-level factors. Expect lenders to consider:
- Partner credit & affordability: partners’ credit histories are often reviewed and can determine pricing and security.
- Personal guarantees: commonly requested, particularly for new partnerships, smaller businesses or larger-ticket finance.
- Security & asset value: lenders prefer assets with strong secondary markets; lower resale value can increase rates.
- Interest rates & fees: pricing reflects credit risk, sector risk and asset durability — specialist lenders may price higher for niche equipment.
Tax note: finance structures affect tax differently (lease vs HP). For tax or legal advice, consult your accountant or solicitor — we do not provide regulated tax advice.
How UK Business Loans helps LLPs & partnerships (process & benefits)
We simplify the search for equipment finance by matching your LLP or partnership to lenders and brokers who commonly work with similar businesses.
- Complete a short enquiry form (name, business name, business type, equipment value, postcode) — takes minutes.
- We match your details with suitable lenders and specialist brokers in our panel.
- Selected partners contact you with eligibility feedback and personalized quotes — often within hours or a couple of days for complex deals.
- Compare offers and decide — there’s no obligation to proceed.
Benefits: speed, sector expertise, confidentiality and no cost to you for introductions. We only introduce you to lenders and brokers; the decision, terms and any credit checks are made by the funder. Get Started — Free Eligibility Check.
Real examples — LLP and partnership outcomes
Case 1 — Construction LLP: hire purchase for excavator
An LLP of two partners needed a new mid-sized excavator. Trading history 18 months; partners provided strong personal finances. We introduced them to a broker who placed the deal with an asset finance company on a hire purchase plan with manageable deposits and personal guarantees from the partners. Result: machine delivered within 10 days, affordable monthly payments and path to ownership.
Our Business Finance Matching Process
Step 1
Complete Your Details
It takes just 1 minute on average to complete your business and contact details.
Step 2
We Match Your Business
With the best business finance broker or lender most suitable for your needs.
Step 3
You Get Free Quote + Advice
You receive a free quote along with complimentary expert financial advice.
It’s fast and free to get a quote from one of the UK’s leading finance brokers / lenders who will contact you directly with your quote/s.
Case 2 — Healthcare partnership: sale & leaseback
A medical partnership wanted to release capital tied up in diagnostic scanners. We matched them with a lender offering sale & leaseback terms. The partnership freed working capital, kept equipment in use and improved cashflow without disrupting patient services.
Want a similar result for your LLP or partnership? Get Quote Now.
Frequently asked questions
Are LLPs and partnerships treated the same as limited companies?
Not always. Some lenders view LLPs similarly to limited companies; others focus more on the partners’ personal finances. We’ll match you with lenders who accept partnerships and LLPs.
Will submitting an enquiry affect our credit score?
No — filling our enquiry is a soft check only. Lenders may run formal credit checks later if you proceed with an application.
Do partners always need to sign personal guarantees?
Not always, but often. PGs are common for partnerships and LLPs, particularly where trading history is short or deal sizes are higher.
Can start-ups or recently formed partnerships get finance?
Yes — specialist lenders and brokers exist for newly formed businesses. Provide robust projections, supplier quotes and partner backing to improve chances.
How long until we receive quotes?
Simple deals can produce quotes within hours; complex or high-value transactions may take a couple of days.
Does UK Business Loans charge for introductions?
No — our service is free for businesses. We earn when a lender or broker you choose pays a fee for the lead.
Start your free eligibility check
LLPs and partnerships can usually access equipment finance — ranging from smaller hires to larger asset funding from £10,000 upwards. For a fast, no-obligation eligibility check and personalised lender matches, complete our short enquiry and we’ll connect you to the best-fit brokers and lenders for your situation.
1. Can LLPs and partnerships get equipment finance?
Yes — many mainstream and specialist lenders and brokers provide equipment finance to LLPs and partnerships, subject to trading history, partner credit profiles and the asset being financed.
2. Is the enquiry form an application and will it affect our credit score?
No — the short enquiry form is not an application but information used to match you with lenders, and submitting it is a soft, non-credit-search enquiry that won’t affect your credit score.
3. What types of equipment finance are available to LLPs and partnerships?
Common options include operating leases, finance leases, hire purchase, sale & leaseback (asset refinance) and VAT/payment spreading, with the right product depending on cashflow, tax and ownership goals.
4. Do partners usually have to provide personal guarantees for equipment finance?
Personal guarantees are often requested for LLPs and partnerships—especially for new businesses, smaller operations or higher-value deals—but requirements vary by lender and deal strength.
5. What documents do lenders typically require for equipment finance for an LLP or partnership?
Lenders usually ask for partnership/LLP registration details, 1–3 years’ accounts or management accounts, recent business bank statements, supplier quotes, partner ID and personal financial information where relevant.
6. Can newly formed LLPs or partnerships obtain equipment finance?
Yes — specialist lenders and brokers often fund newly formed partnerships if partners can demonstrate strong personal finances, supplier quotes, contracts or a robust business plan.
7. How much equipment finance can an LLP or partnership apply for?
Amounts vary by lender and asset, but UK Business Loans typically connects businesses for equipment funding from around £10,000 up to multi‑million deals depending on sector and credit strength.
8. How long does it take to get quotes and receive funding for equipment finance?
You can often receive initial eligibility feedback and quotes within hours or a few days, while final funding timelines depend on asset type, due diligence and any required documentation or guarantees.
9. Does UK Business Loans charge for introductions and what fees should we expect?
UK Business Loans does not charge businesses for introductions; any lender or broker fees, interest rates or guarantee costs will be disclosed by the funder you choose and vary by deal.
10. Are the lenders and brokers UK Business Loans introduces experienced in our sector and regulated?
Yes — UK Business Loans matches you with specialist, reputable brokers and lenders who understand sector-specific equipment values and operate under applicable UK regulation and standards.